DAN MASK 39, Liberia

There are regional variations among the masks of the Dan people who live
in the western part of Ivory Coast and eastern Liberia but they are generally
characterized by a concave face, a pointed chin, a protruding mouth, an
upturned nose and a high-domed forehead.

Now used principally in performance for tourists, the various masks had
traditional functions ranging from entertainment to initiation to social
control.

We recommend an excellent chapter on the masks of the Dan people, including
the various styles and their functions, in The Tribal Arts of Africa
by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart.